NEW Winter Happy Hours at WICA!
Music will fill Zech Hall at the Whidbey Island Center for the Arts (WICA) this winter as the Local Artist Series brings toe-tapping medleys to the arts center’s campus. Launching on January 24, the Local Artist Series will deliver a winter happy hour treat for patrons, who will experience local musician favorites within the cozy Zech Hall gathering space paired with delicious treats and delightful community. Modeled after WICA’s ever popular summer happy hours, the Local Artist Series will feature a different voice each week from the Whidbey arts community, creating an inviting space to unwind, listen, and connect. Concessions will be open for the performances. These evening events celebrate the talent in the local backyard, offering everything from jazz and folk to intimate solo performances. All events are $20 in advance to reserve space or Pay What You Wish at the door, with artists receiving direct support from patron participation.
The Keith Bowers-Gary Wittlich Quartet will open the series on January 24 at 7:00PM, featuring long-time Whidbey musicians Keith Bowers on guitar, Gary Wittlich on piano, Kristi O'Donnell on double bass, and Roger Bennett on percussion. From classic Bossa to swing and ballad tunes, the group will be the perfect start to the series.
On January 25 at 7:00PM, the Porch Brothers & Co will deliver a sound distilled from music rooted in West Texas folk and country blended with West Coast Americana. Following that, local icon and pianist Sheila Weidendorf will be bringing an evening of original music and poetry on January 30 at 7:00PM and Nathaniel Talbot & Keegan Harshman will be on the Zech stage January 31 at 7:00PM.
The Local Artist Series will continue into February, with Michael McInerney on February 6 at 7:00PM, Bahia: Latin Jazz Funk on February 7 at 7:00PM, and Andre Feriante on February 13 at 7:00PM. The series will conclude on February 25 at 7:00PM with Little Habits, the multi-instrumental duo of Marena Salerno Collins and Honza Kourimsky, blending acoustic folk, indie pop, and heartfelt storytelling. Together they weave violin, viola, saxophone, guitar, flutes and percussion, and vocal harmony into an intimate sound shaped by years of performing, writing, and collaborating across the Pacific Northwest.
It’ll be a winter to remember at WICA and patrons are invited to come experience the musical celebration for themselves. To learn more about these events and other WICA programming, visit WICAonline.org.